Volunteer Spotlight: Penny Worth, New York, New York

April 19, 2018

We continue our National Volunteer Week blog series by highlighting Penny Worth, Look Good Feel Better coordinator from New York, who has been recognized with the 2017 Look Good Feel Better National Sunrise Award in the General Volunteer category.

Penny Worth of New York, NY is a recipient of the 2017 Look Good Feel Better National Sunrise Award.

Penny Worth has been a vital part of the Look Good Feel Better program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Since 2001, Penny has been the host site coordinator where she regularly interacts with patients, caregivers, clinicians, volunteers, and staff to manage workshops twice a week, a frequency no other facility across the U.S. has rivaled. In addition to teaching hundreds of patients the skin care and makeup techniques, she works to create a safe, comfortable, and positive experience for each participant to help them feel more confident as they face their cancer journey.

We asked Penny to share a few words about her experience with Look Good Feel Better, and here is what she had to say:

I would like to thank everyone at Look Good Feel Better for the lovely flowers, gift certificate, and gorgeous crystal award. I am deeply honored to receive this recognition. Personally, the most important gift is when I became the Coordinator of Look Good Feel Better (LGFB) program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK).

Thinking back to when I was a patient, I was overwhelmed by all the support and care I received from everyone and wanted a way to pay it back. I found I could do this by volunteering for the LGFB program, especially given my experience as an actress understanding how to properly use makeup and handle wigs. After volunteering, I was asked to oversee the program at MSK, which I have had the honor of doing for over 16 years.

At MSK, we run workshops 2 to 3 times a week for inpatients and outpatients. Each workshop has a special meaning for me. I meet so many people at different stages of their cancer care. I feel LGFB is so much more than just a makeover. It’s about patients feeling good about themselves and finding something to help cope with their illness, aid in their recovery, and help them look towards the future.

I also want to recognize and thank our wonderful volunteers who selflessly give their time and effort to the MSK program over the years. We strive to do all we can to help patients learn about how to care for themselves using makeup, enjoy their time and share their experiences with other patients, and leave our workshops happier than when they arrived. Family members and friends are also happy to see their loved one’s spirit lifted through their participation in the program. I am grateful and proud to be a part of LGFB each week.